Type-writing machine.



No. 724,671. 'PATENTED APR; 7. 1903. 5

H. (moss & J. GRIFFITHS TYPB'WRITING MACHINE.

,APILIQA TION FILED JUL? 24, 1901 10 MODEL. Y

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fizveaforJi W 7 a 1% we.

p. ,PATENTED APRQV, 1903. H. (moss & G.VJ. GRIFFITHS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum) JULTM, 1901.

I 110 1:01am.

8 SHEETS-SHEET Z- I] Ell-l ln'll ml l i Jam JP]? I UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

HARRY CROSS AND GEORGE J. GRIFFITHS, OF NVOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORSTOTHE OLIVER TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

- TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SIEGIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 724,671, dated April 7,1903. Application filed July 24,1901. Serial No. 69.480- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY CROSS and GEORGE J. GRIFFITHS, of Woodstock,in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful 'Improvements in'lype-Writing Machines; and we do herebydeclare that the following is a full clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and r ing theuniversal bar and the key-levers to their uppermost positions.

The several features of the invention are herein shown as applied to theOliver typewriting machine, though it will be apparent that some of thefeatures of the invention may be adapted for application to other typesof machines.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sec-' tion of an Olivertype-writing machine embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a detail showingthe spring for raising the universal bar and the keys to their uppermostpositions.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a fragment of the machine designed to show ourimproved dead key and the connections between the same and theescapemeut mechanism and showing also parts of the right-hand stopmechanism. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on line 4 4: of Fig.3. Fig. 5 is a similar section with the operative parts of theinventionin changed positions. Fig. 6 is a detail section in line b 6 of Fig. 3.Fig. 7 is a like section with the parts in changed positions. Fig. 8 isa vertical detail section on line 8 S of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a plan View on line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectiontaken through the carriage near one end thereof, showing an auxiliaryspring for supporting the lower paper-guide... Fig. 11 is asection online 11 11 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a bottom view of a fragment oftherack, showing the means of fastening the auxiliary spring in place. Fig.13 is a vertical section taken through the central longitudinal memberof the universal-bar frame and adjacent parts, illustrating a cushioningor buffer spring which limits the depression of the universal-bar frameand keylevers. Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig.13. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 15 15 of Fig. 2.

In said drawings only such parts of the type-writing machine areillustrated as are essential to an understanding of the application ofthe several features of the invention thereto. We will first refer tothe general construction of the machine shown and will thereafterexplain the parts constituting our present improvements.

The'gene-ral construction of the machine is like that shown in the priorUnited States Letters Patent to Oliver, No. 599,863, granted March'l,1898.

As shown in said drawings, A designates thebase of the machine, and A Aa plurality of key-levers which are pivoted at their rear ends tostandards a, rising from the base, and are connected by upright links Bwith 'U-shaped type-bars 0, Figs. 9 and 10, such as are employed in saidOliver type-writing machine:

D designates as a whole a shifting frame on which the carriage(designated as a whole by the letter E) rests. Said shifting frame isprovided with transverse guide-bars D D on which travel the supportingwheels or rollers e of the carriage, and with a rearwardly-extendingguide rod or stem D which slides in a vertical guide A rising from .therear of the base-plate A. The forward part of the shifting frame issupported by devices for this purposesuch,for instance, as are shown inthe prior United States Letters Patent to Oliver, referred to.

F designates a vertical escape-wheel shaft located near the center ofthe machine and mounted on the front of the shifting frame D. Saidshaft- F is provided at its upper end with a gear-pinion F, adapted toengage a rack-bar E on the carriage. The shaft carries at its lower endan escape-wheel F The upper end of the shaft passes through a block Flocated in a guide-bracket F, connected with the shifting frame.

G designates an oscillatory escapementlever, Fig. 3, which extends fromthe front to the rear of the machine and is pivoted to the front of theshifting frame D to swing in a vertical plane. The forward end of thelever is located at one side of and adjacent to the escape-wheel F andcarries stiff and limber pawls g g, which are adapted for engagementwith the escape-wheel F as the lever is oscillated to permit theescapementwheel to turn under the impulse imparted thereto by thecarriage-actuating spring in the manner set forth in said prior patentto Oliver.

H designates a transversely-arranged vertically-movable space-barlocated beneath and adapted for actuation by all the keylevers and whichconstitutes part of an oscillating frame, which is formed by means ofsaid space-bar, a rock-shaft 1'1 arranged parallel therewith at thefront part of the machine, and a plurality of arms which rigidly connectthe said rock-shaft with the spacebar. One of said arms is located nearthe center of the machine and is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, beingtherein indicated by the letter H. The escape-lever G is connected withthe rear part of the oscillating frame by a slotted yoke H which ispivoted at its upper end to and depends from the said lever, and theslot of which is arranged horizontally and adapted to receive a stud h,(shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) which is affixed to said arm H of thespacebar frame. Through the medium of the slotted yoke vertical movementof the spacebar is transmitted directly to the escapelever, andbackward-and-forward movement of said lever with the shifting frame ispermitted by said slotted yoke without affecting the action of theescape devices.

The space-bar H is thrown upward into contact with the key-levers bymeans of an expansively-acting spiral lifting-spring H, which isarranged vertically beneath said space-bar and bears against the same atits upper end. The said upper end of the spring H is held in place byengagement with a depending stud h on the space-bar. The lower end ofthe said spring is contained within an upright upwardly-openingcylindric casing H attached to the base-plate by means of a bracket-arm7L on the casing, which is secured by screws to the bottom surface ofthe frame, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. To provide for adjustment ofthe tension of the coiled lifting-spring H, a follower-plate 7L8 islocated within the cylindric casing H between the lower end of thespring and the bottom wall of the casing, and an adjusting-screw H isinserted upwardly through the said bottom wall of the casing, so as tobear upwardly against said follower, said adjusting-screw being providedwith a jam-nut 7L, which bears against the said bottom wall of thecasing and holds the screw from shifting in position when adjusted toVary the tension of the spring.

Provision is made forcushioning the spacebar frame, or, in other words,for yieldingly arresting the downward movement of the space-bar framewhen a key or the space-key is depressed, as follows: Such cushioningdevice consists of a straight leaf-spring H attached to the central arm11 of the space-bar frame, as shown in Figs. 1, 13, and 14, andprojecting rearwardly and downwardly from its point of attachment tosaid arm. Said arm 11 terminates at its rear end in a vertical partwhich rises to the space-bar 1-1, which is considerably above the levelof the main part of said arm, and the spring H projects at its free endbeyond or to the rear of the vertical part of the said arm. Said springis secured at its forward end to the bottom surface of the arm H bymeans of a headed screw h, which passes through the spring and entersthe said arm, the latter being provided with a seat 7t for the spring,which seat is downwardly and rearwardly inclined to give an inclinedposition to the spring. Provision is made for adjusting the tension ofthe spring and the vertical position of the rear or free end thereof,consisting of two bolts 72 71 which have screw-threaded engagement withthe arm H and engage apertures in the spring.

H designates a depending bracket provided with an adjustable stop 7L5,having the form of a screw, which passes upwardly through the horizontalextremity of the arm and is adapted for engagement with the free end ofthe cushioning-spring H the said screw 7L5 havinga jam-nut it When akeylever or the space-key is depressed, before the limit of depressionis reached the rear end of the spring H comes into contact with thestop-screw if and yieldingly arrests or cushions the movement of thedescending part.

The bolt 72?, which is located between the attaching-screw h and therear end of the arm H, is adjustable in the said arm and is providedabove the spring with an enlargement or collar 7L forming adownwardly-facing shoulder, against which the spring bears. Convenientlythe lower end of said bolt h passes through the aperture formed thereforin the spring, Fig. 14, and is provided with a slot for a screw-driver,so that the bolt may be easily adjusted in the frame-arms H. Said bolt his also preferably provided above the arm H, through which it passes,with a jamnut 7t to hold the bolt from turning when adjusted. The bolt71/ is located near the rear end of the arm H and engages the spring'near the free end of the same. Said bolt it passes through the aperturemade therefor in the spring and is provided at its lower end with a head71. which serves to limit the downward movement of the free end of thespring. Said bolt h is also provided with a jam-nut h, which bearsagainst the arm H to hold the bolt from turning when adjusted.-

The bolts k 71, arranged as described, serve to enable the tension ofthe spring or, in other words, the resistance afforded thereby to thedepression of the space-bar when the spring strikes the stop it to bevaried or adjusted as desired, and said bolts also aid in adjusting thefree end of the spring vertically, so that it will strike the stop h atan earlier or later point in the depression of the spacekey and maytherefore be made to operate through a greater or less portion of thedown- Ward movement of the space-bar, as required, for the best resultsin the operation of the machine. The adjustment of the stop it alsoaifects the time and duration of the cushioning action of the spring.Manifestly if the bolt 71, be adjusted downwardly the spring will pressmore forcibly downward on the head of the bolt h and the spring will actwith greater pressure or resistance when it first strikes the said stopk The same result will be produced by adjusting the bolt h uowardly; butsuch adjustment will lift the endv of the spring and result in the samestriking,

the stop h at a lower point in the downward movement of the space-bar.In adjusting the spring, for instance, the bolt It may first be adjustedto make the spring strike the stop at the desired point in the descentof the space-bar .and the bolt h then adjusted to give the desiredtension in the spring. Such adjustment of the bolt h will slightlychange the vertical position of the end of the spring, and the stop itmay then be adjusted to compensate therefor.

Referring now to the dead key and its connection with the escapementmechanism, which forms one feature of our invention, these parts aremade as follows: 1, Figs. 3, 4:, and 5, designates a key-lever carryinga key 2' and which is connected with one of the upright links B foroperating one of the typelevers. Said key-lever, so far as its functionof actuating its connected type-bar is concerned, is made like andoperates in the same manner as the other key-levers, and depressionthereof oscillates the space-bar H and raises the front end of the leverG and the connected pawls. Means are provided,however, which are set inoperation by the depression of the said key-lever I for elevating theescape-wheel at the same time the pawls are raised, and therebyretaining these parts in engagement, so as to prevent the usualoperation of the escapement mechanism. The means for effecting thisresult are made as follows:

I designates a horizontal vertically-reciprocatory lever, which ispivoted near'one end thereof on a pivot-stud t", affixed to the frontpart of the shifting frame D. The inner end of said lever is bentobliquely and is adapted to engage a groove f in a collar F affixed tothe shaft below the guide-block F The outer end of said lever I isprovided with a forwardlyprojecting arm 1 located above the key-leversand which passes through and has engagement with a loop t which isattached to and is elevated above the key-lever I. With thisconstruction it will be seen that when the key-lever I is depressed itacts through the space-bar frame to raise the front end of theescape-lever and pawls carried thereby, which in the like operation ofthe other key-levers disengages said pawls from the escape-wheel andpermits the carriage to move one step. The escape-wheel shaft, however,in the operation of the dead key-lever is raised by means of the lever Ia sufficient distance to prevent disengagement of the pawls from theescape-wheel. The position of rest of the dead key-lever and theassociated parts embraced in this feature of our invention are shown inFig. 4, while in Fig. 5 the key-lever is shown as depressed and theescape-wheel and the shaft elevated to corre spond with the elevation ofthe escape-lever and pawls carried thereby. The purpose of saidconstruction is to enable accents and like characters-such as the acute,grave, and circumflex accents-to be printed immediately over letters, itbeing obvious that no spacing movement of the carriage can take placebetween the printing of the letter and the char-v acter when the latteris to be placed immediately over the letter.

Referring now to the construction of the right-hand stop mechanism,which constitutes another feature of our invention, these parts areshown in Figs. 6 to 9 and are made as follows: On the front of thecarriage-frame and at the right-hand end thereof is located adependinglongitudinal flange E and on said flange is movably secured asliding line stoplug E3, which is adapted to be adjusted longitudinallyof the flange by engagement of a tooth thereon with a series of notcheson the lower edge of the flange in the manner set forth in thesaid priorpatent to Oliver, above referred to. tact with an arm J on the shiftingframe located normally in the path of the said lug, but which is adaptedto be swung forwardly therefrom to permit the carriage to pass beyond acertain point determined by the adjusted position of the lug on thecarriage and which determines the width'of the right-hand margin of thepaper. The arm J is formed on or connected rigidly with a lever J, whichis pivoted on a stud j, affixed to a forwardlyprojecting part of theshifting frame D, located at one side of andadjacent to theescapement-wheel shaft, between the escapementwheel and pinion on saidshaft. Said lever Said stop-lug is adapted for con- J is provided with akeyj', by which it may be conveniently manipulated. The lever is &

normally held in its retracted position, with the arm J thereof in thepath of the stop-lug E by means of a spiral contractile spring Jconnected at one end with the shifting frame and at its other end with alug on said arm. The flange E is provided with a graduated scale, asshown in Fig. 8, by which the lug may be set thereon to give a certainwidth of margin at the right-hand side of said printed page. After thelug has been set for a given width of margin the carriage will bestopped by contact of the arm J with the stop-lug E as the carriageapproaches the end of the line. If it should be desired, however, toprint a letter, letters, or a word beyond the margin determined by theposition of said stop-lug, the

lever J is swung downwardly, which swings the arm J out of the path ofsaid stop-lug and permits the carriage to move beyond said arm or to theend of its maximum travel, if desired. The normal position of the armand lever are shown in Fig. 6, while the parts are shown in Fig. 7 inposition to permit the'stoplug to pass the arm J. Moreover, thedepression of the lever J to move the arm J out of l the path of thestop-lug E permits the car riage to be removed from the machine withoutremoval from the carriage-frame of the line stop-lug, as heretoforenecessary in machines of this class.

In Figs. 10, 11, and 12 we have shown a supplemen tal or auxiliaryspring located beneath the lower paper-guide for the platen and intendedto support the same when feeding extra heavy paper or cards through thecarriage. As shown in said figures, E designates one of the end platesof the carriage in which the shaft of the platen E (indicated in dottedlines) is mounted. E E designate upper and lower paper-guides attachedto the end plates of the carriage, whereby the paper is guided towardand from the platen in entering and leaving the machine. E designates apresser-roller which is located beneath the platen (indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 10) and which engages the paper after it leaves the lowerpaper-guide E The devices whereby the presser-roller E is mounted on thecarriage-frame are substantially like those shown in the prior patent toOliver, before mentioned. The shaft of said roller is mounted at itsends in blocks e, which are attached to the forward and free extremitiesof horizontally-arranged spring-arms E one located at each end of thecarriage. Said spring-arms are attached at their rear ends to thecarriage-frame in any suitable manner and project forwardly toward theplaten. Said springarms act to press the roller firmly against theplaten. The roller is released from contact with the platen by means ofa rock-shaft E which is mounted in the end plates of the carriage andextends longitudinally thereof above the spring-arms. Said rock-shaft isprovided near its ends with cam arms or lugs e, which are located oversaid spring-arms and are adapted to act upon the spring-arms in a mannerto depress the same when the rock-shaft is turned or rotated in adirection to carry the cams or lugs against said springarms. Edesignates a guide-plate attached to the forward ends of the spring-armsand extending forwardly and upwardly from the pressure-roller E forguiding the paper under the platen as it leaves the roller. The tensionof said spring-arms is varied by means of screw studs e which passupwardly through lugs on the end plates of the carriage and engage theunder faces of said arms. 0 designates one of the supplemental orauxiliary springs referred to. Said spring 6 is attached to the rack-barE of the carriage, on the under side thereof, with its end projectingupwardly through an opening in said rack-bar in position to act upwardlyagainst and support the forward or free edge of the guide plate E. Thesaid supplemental springs are located normally out of contact with saidguide-plate; but said guide-plate is adapted when a heavy sheet of paperor cardboard is inserted between the same and the platen to press orforce the guide-plate into contact with the upper ends of the springs,whereby said springs act in conjunction with the spring-arms E to holdthe guide-plate E pressed against the paper between the same and theplaten to hold said paper in frictional contact with the platen, andthereby insure its movement with the platen. The pressure of the plate Etoward the platen required to insure the proper feeding action ormovement of the paper with the platen is greater in the case of a thicksheet or a plurality of sheets than in the case of sheets of ordinarythickness, and the supplemental springs described act to give theadditional pressure required when the plate E is forced away from theplaten by the presence between it and the platen of athick sheet or athick mass of thin sheets without interfering with the usual action ofthe said plate in feeding sheets of ordinary thickness or a few of suchsheets.

It is obvious that many changes may be made in the details ofconstruction above described without departing from the spirit of ourinvention, and we do not wish to be limited to such details except ashereinafter made the subject of specific claims.

We claim as our invention- 1. The combination with the key-levers of atype-writer, type-bars connected with and actuated by said levers, apaper-carriage and an esca'pement mechanism actuated'by the depressionof said key-levers for imparting a step-by-step movement to saidcarriage and embracing an oscillatory escape-lever and a toothed partwhich moves in unison with the carriage and the teeth of which areadapted for engagement with the escape-lever, said toothed part of theescape mechanism being capable of movement with the escape-lever, ofmeans connecting one of said key-levers with the toothed part of theescapementmechanism, whereby actuation of said lever to depress itstype-bar produces movement of said toothed part with the escape-leverand prevents operation of the escapement mechanism.

2. The combination with the key-levers of a type-writer, type-barsconnected with and actuated by said levers and a paper-carriage, of anescapement mechanism embracing a rotative shaft provided with apinionadapted for engagement with the rack-bar of the carriage and with anescape-wheel, an escapelever provided with a pawl adapted to engage theescape-wheel to permit the turning of the shaft step by step, saidescape-wheel being movable in a direction endwise of the shaft,connections between the key-levers and the escape-lever for oscillatingthe latter, and means connecting one of said key-levers with theescape-wheel adapted to effect the movement of said wheel with said pawlwhen the said lever is depressed to prevent operation of the escapementmechanism at such time.

3. The combination with the key-levers of a type-writer, type-barsconnected with and actuated by said levers, a paper-carriage and anescapement mechanism for imparting to the carriage a step-by-stepmovement comprising a rack-bar on the carriage and a rotative andvertically-movable shaft provided with a pinion adapted for engagementwith the said rack-bar and with an escape-wheel, avertically-oscillatory lever provided with a pawl adapted to engage saidescape-wheel, connection between said escape-lever and keylevers foractuating the escapement mechanism upon the depression of the keys, anda lever pivoted between its ends and having connection at one end withthe escape-shaft and at its other end with one of said key-levers.

4. The combination with a carriage provided with a line-stop, of akey-lever which is pivoted to the machine-frame by means of a pivot-pinwhich is generally parallel with the path of travel of the carriage,-andis provided with a rigid arm movable into and out of the path of saidline-stop and the carriage, said lever terminating at its forward end inthe region of the keyboard and being adapted to be depressed to move therigid arm thereof out of the path of said line-stop, and a springapplied to said key-lever and acting to hold said rigid arm yieldinglyin the path of said line-stop.

5. The combination with a paper-carriage, a line-stop comprising adepending notched flange on the carriage, and a stop-block havingadjustable sliding engagement with said flange, of a pivoted leverprovided with a rigid arm which stands normally in the path of saidblock, and a spring for yieldingly holding said arm in the path of saidblock.

6. The combination with a paper-carriage, a line-stop comprising adepending notched flange on the carriage, a stop-block having adjustablesliding engagement with said flange, of a key-lever pivoted on themachineframe and provided with a rigid arm which rests normally in thepath of said block, and

a spring applied to hold said key-lever in its elevated position and thesaid arm in the path of said block.

7. The combination with a paper-carriage,

.of a line-stop comprisinga depending notched flange on the carriage,and a stop-block having adjustable sliding engagement with said flange,a lever pivoted to the carriage-supporting frame and provided with arigid arm which extends into the path of said block, a

spring applied to the arm for holding it in the path of the block, and akey on the outer end of the lever. v

8. In a type-writer, the combination with key-levers, type-barsconnected with and actuated by said levers, and a space-bar locatedtransversely beneath said key-levers, of an expansively-acting spiralspring located beneath said space-bar between the same and the base ofthe machine, a cylindric, opentopped casing attached to the frame withinwhich the lower end of the spring is inserted and held, and a set-screwinserted through the bottom wall of the casing and bearing upwardly onthe spring for adjusting the tension of the same.

9. In a type-writer, the combination with key-levers, type-barsconnected with and actuated by said key-levers, and a space-bar which ispivotally connected with the machine-frame and is located transverselybeneath the key-levers, of a spiral spring acting upwardly against thespace-bar, an upwardlyopening casing attached to the machine-baseadapted to receive the lower end of said spring, a follower in thecasing, and a setscrew inserted through the bottom of said casing andacting on the said follower to adjust the tension of the spring.

10. In a type-writer, the combination with key-levers, type-barsconnected with and actuated by said key-levers, a pivoted spacebarlocated transversely beneath said key-levers, a flat spring carried bysaid space-bar, and an adjustable, stop on the machine-frame with whichsaid spring comes into contact in .the latter part of the descent of thebar.

11. In a type-writer, the combination with key-levers, type-barsconnected with and actuated by said key-levers, and a bar pivotallylocated beneath said key-levers, of a flat spring attached at one end tosaid bar, a stop on the frame for contact with said spring and adjustingmeans whereby the free end of said spring may be raised or lowered withrespect to the bar, and the tension of the spring may be varied.

12. In a type-writer, the combination with the space-bar frame, of aflat spring attached at one end to said frame and adapted for contact atits opposite end with a stop on the machineframe and adjusting means forthe spring embracing two bolts which have adj ustable connection withthe space-bar frame, one of said bolts being adapted to bear downwardlyand the other upwardly on the spring.

13. In a type-writer, the combination with a space-bar, of a flat springattached at one end to the space-bar frame, and adapted for engagementat its free end with a stop on the machine frame, an adjusting boltwhich passes through the spring near its free end and has screw-threadedengagement with the space-bar frame and provided with a head beneath thespring, and a second adjusting-bolt which has screw-threaded engagementwith the space-bar frame and acts downwardly on the spring at a pointbetween the first-mentioned bolt and the end of the spring which issecured to the space-bar frame.

14. In a type-writer, the combination with a space-bar frame, of a fiatspring attached at one end to the space-bar frame, avertically-adjustable stop on the machine-frame adapted for contact withthe free end of said spring, a vertically-adjustable bolt on thespace-bar frame engaging the lower surface of the spring near its freeend, and a second vertically-adjustable bolt on the space-bar framearranged to bear downwardly on said spring at a point between the boltfirst referred to and the end of the spring which is attached to saidspace-bar frame.

15. The combination with a carriage and a platen mounted therein, of apresser-roller located beneath and pressing upwardly against the platen,spring-arms attached to the carriage and provided at their free endswith a bearing for said presser-roller, a guide-plate attached to thespring-arms and arranged to guide the paper after it leaves the roller,and auxiliary springs attached to the carriage and adapted to bearupwardly against said guide plate when the latter is depressed away fromthe platen.

16. The combination with a carriage and a platen mounted therein, of aguide plate, spring-arms supporting said guide-plate and holding thesame adjacent to the platen, and auxiliary springs having longitudinalparts which are attached to a longitudinal frame member of the carriage,and parts which are bent at right angles to the longitudinal parts andwhich extend through apertures in said frame member with their ends inposition for contact with said guide-plate when the same is thrown awayfrom the platen. 4

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we aflix oursignatures, in presence of two witnesses, this 20th day of July, A. D.1901.

HARRY GROSS. GEORGE .T. GRIFFITHS.

Vituesses:

D. R. J OSLYN, EMIL ARNOLD.

